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Armstrong extends its education role further into the community

Armstrong Atlantic State University will be opening a dental clinic and classroom building in Savannah Mall in the former Montgomery Wards building.

Richard Burkhart

Armstrong Atlantic State University has remodeled the former Publix and created Armstrong Center which will accommodate meetings and conferences.

Richard Burkhart

Armstrong Center also includes a large auditorium that can be used for classes and lectures.

Ellen V. Whitford was quite content at Central Connecticut State University. She had been a professor and interim provost and vice president for academic affairs since November 2004. She wasn't looking for new a job but couldn't resist the lure of current and future growth at Armstrong Atlantic State University.

She's now vice president and dean of faculty at AASU and excited about the university's vision. In her new role, Whitford will serve as the university's chief academic officer and assume responsibility for the leadership and supervision of the faculty and academic units of the university.

"This is a great opportunity to see the university help develop a new community workforce," Whitford said. "That's an important role of a public university ... to maintain a solid relationship with the community, prepare students for the work world and to educate our citizens."

A major part of that plan is two new facilities: the Armstrong Center for Continuing Education and Community Engagement and the Armstrong Clinics at Savannah Mall.

Located in the former Publix complex, the center furthers the university's motto: To extend resources of the university to promote lifelong learning, said Robert DiBella of the Continuing Education department.

Armstrong Center's purpose is threefold he said:

To provide a resource that allows the university to engage in continuing education for the faculty.

Professional seminars and other events often competed for space with classes on the main campus. Now the right type of learning environment, media support and space is readily available.

To provide professional training and development opportunities for the community.

For example, if Gulfstream wanted to hold a training session or Savannah Candy Kitchen needed a space to train its sales staff, Armstrong Center is a viable option.

To provide space for social functions.

There's ample room for banquets, receptions, reunions, etc.

With an auditorium that seats up to 270, a ballroom with room for 350 and half a dozen meeting rooms with the capacity for 60 people in a classroom setting, the building hardly looks like a grocery store anymore.

A ribbon-cutting is set for September.

The clinics at the Savannah Mall are another way the university can reach out to the community and provide more space for university programs.

The dental hygiene clinic and the speech disorders clinic will be housed in the former Montgomery Wards space. So will classrooms and some administrative offices for dental hygiene and communication sciences and disorders.

With the incredible demand in health care fields, Dr. Barry Eckert, dean of the College of Health Professions said space was getting tight on the main campus.

Clients of the dental hygiene and speech pathology clinics will find more parking and easier handicap access, he said.

"We looked at the needs of the university and the community and the Savannah Mall space fits with our goals," Eckert added.

The grand opening is scheduled for October, but once classes start, students will begin seeing patients on a limited basis, Eckert said.

That's how a modern university's supposed to function, said Whitford. Making sure technology, trained faculty and accredited programs are available for students and the community are paramount.

"We're not in an ivory tower," she said. "We're a very dynamic part of the community."